In Pictures: NBA playoffs preview

It's all to play for as the NBA playoffs begin.

NBA\(***)s playoffs tip off this weekend with superstar LeBron James seeking to secure a second straight championships with the Miami Heat.

REUTERS

The Heat have been in
ominous form this season, with a campaign that includes 66 wins and a mammoth
27-game winning streak – the second-longest in league history.

Getty Images

Many are already predicting a championship series repeat of last year\(***)s finals, between the Heat and Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City.

AFP/Getty Images

Eastern Conference top seeds Heat will begin their playoff push by hosting the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of their best-of-seven first-round series.

AP

Oklahoma City Thunder captured their third straight division crown and will meet a familiar face in James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

AP

Fourth-seeded Brooklyn Nets are back in the playoffs and will host the Chicago Bulls, who have played the entire year without former MVP Derrick Rose, who tore a knee ligament in the Bull’s playoff opener last year.

AFP/Getty Images

The New York Knicks head into these playoffs with much higher expectations, with Carmelo Anthony guiding the Knicks to a second seed and their first Atlantic Division crown in 19 years.

REUTERS

New York are aiming to avenge a 2011 four-game series sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics when the division rivals face off.

REUTERS

San Antonio Spurs square off this weekend against the underachieving Los Angeles Lakers who are without superstar Kobe Bryant for the rest of the season.

AP

Bryant\(***)s was just one of many injuries the Lakers battled all season, but they won eight of their last nine games - beating Houston in their season finale to grab the West\(***)s seventh seed from the Rockets.

REUTERS

NBA\(***)s playoffs tip off this weekend with superstar LeBron James seeking to secure a second straight championships with the Miami Heat.

REUTERS

The Heat have been in
ominous form this season, with a campaign that includes 66 wins and a mammoth
27-game winning streak – the second-longest in league history.

Getty Images

Many are already predicting a championship series repeat of last year\(***)s finals, between the Heat and Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City.

AFP/Getty Images

Eastern Conference top seeds Heat will begin their playoff push by hosting the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of their best-of-seven first-round series.

AP

Oklahoma City Thunder captured their third straight division crown and will meet a familiar face in James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

AP

Fourth-seeded Brooklyn Nets are back in the playoffs and will host the Chicago Bulls, who have played the entire year without former MVP Derrick Rose, who tore a knee ligament in the Bull’s playoff opener last year.

AFP/Getty Images

The New York Knicks head into these playoffs with much higher expectations, with Carmelo Anthony guiding the Knicks to a second seed and their first Atlantic Division crown in 19 years.

REUTERS

New York are aiming to avenge a 2011 four-game series sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics when the division rivals face off.

REUTERS

San Antonio Spurs square off this weekend against the underachieving Los Angeles Lakers who are without superstar Kobe Bryant for the rest of the season.

AP

Bryant\(***)s was just one of many injuries the Lakers battled all season, but they won eight of their last nine games - beating Houston in their season finale to grab the West\(***)s seventh seed from the Rockets.